Road Trip!

We recently went to Washington state to see my brother and his family. It had been several years, and cousins really needed to see everyone again. I really didn't need to sit in a car for 12 hours, but sacrifice is part of the parenthood package. We were able to have a really fun time and the kids were able to reconnect even though we were only able to stay a few days.

At least we were able to trade off driving. Ben did all right on his leg, but he really needs to focus more on the road and less on the radio. Okay, so this is really a picture from the children's museum we visited while there.

The girls found out that they are louder than a jet plane landing and a major sporting event in the scream room. It's a fact. A fact anyone could have told them before they entered the scream room, but a fact nonetheless.

The boys loved the museum, but were too cool to admit it. Most of the time. There are no pictures available of the water table because of the excessive moisture and giggliness as they made boats and raced them in the currents they made.

We will definitely need to go back up and visit again. And next time, I will be prepared and take Valium or Benadryl so I wake up right at the end. But seriously, the kids did great and we all had a good time in the car and with cousins.

The First 2 Weeks

Well, it certainly has been a long time since I updated this blog. But we will start fresh and maybe I will find time to add what else has happened this past year.

We are now in Delta, Utah. It is centrally located and a little to the west, in the middle of a desert. We brought the cold Idaho weather with us, as we have had record cold and snow since arriving. Nothing like feeling you are still at home, right?

The kids have started school and are adjusting well. Nadia is at the middle school here, and absolutely thrilled to have a locker. Unless that same locker is making her late for class because you have to get the combination just right while sticking your tongue out at just the right angle with your head cocked to the side and closing one of your eyes. She is the only Beehive here, which was a little intimidating at first, but the girls have been great at including her. Our big problem here is that we just found out she is lactose intolerant and she is still learning what she can and can't eat or drink. Alfredo sauce and hot chocolate have been real jerks.

Brandon is in Webelos now. He hasn't gone to a meeting here yet, as they are waiting til after the Holiday Season, but he is excited to join them. He has made some new friends at school and church, and is absolutely obsessed with the Disney Infinity game that we got for Christmas from the IF grandparents.

Ben is also doing well. He is starting piano, along with Brandon, while we are here in Delta. He has loved playing in the snow and gaming with Brandon. He has been great with doing homework and reading every day since we got here, which I find amazing. He is also making a few friends, and is excited to be in the Ward Christmas party play and having a part in the school presentation.

Caleb is just my buddy right now. It was amazing when we arrived that the nursery leaders remembered him from summer, and he has had no problems with adjusting at church. We just need to find a few kids to do playdates with, and will be set. He is so busy! We have been playing computer games, pop-up board games, and he even prays at night that we will play more games the next day. We have also made cookies and cake, we go to the store and bank regularly, and he still has more energy than me.

Carly Simon Was Right...I am So Vain

Do you remember that song by Carly Simon called "You're So Vain"?  I am way to young to have ever heard it in the car on the radio, but I know a little about the story and have a huge pet peeve with this song and the writer/singer. Apparently it was incredibly popular and even had a huge auction where some person paid a bajillion dollars to have dinner with Carly and find out who it was that was so vain. Really? Someone paid money for this? To find out who was so vain and why they probably think this song is about that person? And isn't that song really about that vain person? There's no "it's probably about you", it really is about you, and being vain, you would think so even if it wasn't. I hate it.
But it has been going through my mind all day, because it perfectly describes me right now. I am so vain.
I went to the doctor's office today to have a 3 month check-up on my foot. He poked, prodded, we took x-rays, and I asked some questions. Then I got in the car and cried because I am a vain person.
My foot will never be cute (okay, so it really wasn't all that cute before, but you know what I mean) and straight like it was before. I have good motion in my toes, no aches or lingering pain from the accident, my toenail is growing in and looks wonderful, but all I can focus on is how I now have a crooked big toe and a small toe with a kink in it. Silly, silly, vain girl.
The scar on the top of my foot is getting smaller all the time, and is a light pink instead of the dark purple it was just a few weeks ago. It will probably fade away almost entirely, but I am not focusing on that. I am thinking about how I have a scar on the top of my foot and how it will totally out-ugly any cute strappy shoes I might have worn this Spring and Summer. Vain, vain, vain.
I no longer have any restrictions on my foot, and can do anything I normally would as long as it doesn't cause pain. Unfortunately, this means I can't wear certain shoes that rub up on my kinked toe, and probably should stay away from cheap flip-flops for a while at least. I feel like I am being relegated to sturdy (read clunky) walking shoes or Crocs. Can you believe how unfair that is? No cute sandals that might slide around while I am wearing them because they don't have any support. No, just Doc Martens and Clark's, so I will look like an out of work school teacher or just a fashion-challenged lady with my grandma shoes. Never mind that they might be incredibly comfortable and offer good all over foot support. Silly, Silly silly.
Now that it's Spring, I feel the urge to have cute and painted toe nails, but feel like I can't because my big toenail is still growing in and look super short and funny right now. Never mind that it is healthy and growing faster than the doctor predicted it would, or that it actually looks better than it did before the accident when it had a weird curve in the top. I am complaining because I can't have cute painted toes, or at least, not cute painted toes that I am comfortable with anyone seeing. Vain, vain, vain.
Not that I have ever done it before, but I had been planning on training for and competing in a 5k this summer. I thought it would be a good way to get in shape, even though I hate running, but now those plans are on hold for at least a year. Toes heal slowly, and there still isn't a whole lot of bone there on the breaks. I get told this every time I go in to see this doctor. "Toes heal slowly", "Toes heal slowly". Ugh.  Silly vain girl.
Well, enough of my silly and vain whinings. I am sure I will be okay with it all tomorrow. Especially if I can kick that stupid Pollyanna girl in the shin and run away (okay, hobble slowly still). And maybe then those big clunky Doc Martens will come in handy for leaving a nice, big bruise for her to be glad about. Now that's some positive thinking.

Sledding the Hill

I was looking on my camera and realized there were a bunch of pictures of sledding on it. They must have been taken while I was in a drug-induced haze after the piano incident. Well, here are a few of them, and while I have no idea who took them, I am glad they did.

Better Late Than Never

Hello to everyone! I find myself in the position of having a lot of time on my hands currently, since I am only allowed to keep my foot elevated and off the ground. Great time to update the blog, right? Here are the first day of school pics. Benjamin's is actually a some time during the first week when we weren't running too far behind in getting him to pm kindergarten. Caleb just felt the need to have a school pic too, and came up to me with his backpack on and ready to go. It was not very fun explaining to him that he doesn't have school, and that he would be taking a nap instead. I know how to disappoint them, all right.

Summer fun 2012

 Here is a pic of Nadia and her best friend CJ, who is a professional barrel racing horse. Nadia got to live the dream of every 10 year old girl and have a horse fall in love with her and take lessons.

 Camping. Yeah, we finally went camping. I think it was less than 24 hours. But the kids loved it. I am also pretty sure that Caleb is right in the middle of saying, "No. I do it." He is a healthy and happy 2 yr old for sure. The other boys couldn't be bothered with cooking anything.  Really boys?

Riding in the back of a truck. What childhood wouldn't be complete without this memory?

Confessions of an Alone (and maybe lonely) Housewife

I cannot believe that summer vacation is almost over.  I have a hard time believing that school will be here in two weeks. But you better believe that I am ready for it.  Oh so very ready.  These moms that say they are sad about school starting? I am pretty sure they are liars.  Like the big fat kind with their pants on fire.  Unless they are only sad about their kids being older which means they (the moms) are older.  That makes me sad, too.  But not spending every waking moment keeping track of everyone, cleaning up messes, there is a reason you have a towel so please use it, that just exhausts me.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like the warmer weather, letting the kids run out with sunscreen and bathing suits, having picnics, blah blah blah.  Maybe I'm a little too uptight, but I hate dealing with the consequences of their summer actions.  Sand belongs outside, not in their pockets or body crevices where it forms into little disgusting mud balls that look like used kitty litter.  And as much as I love flip flops, it really grosses me out to clean up half torn off toenails that were victims of soccer balls.  There is a reason I am not a nurse, don't they know that? 

Is it bad that I am also excited about not having multiple friends over every single day?  No more "Have you flushed and washed your hands?" automatically coming out of my mouth every time I hear a door open or close.  At least it kept most of the solicitor contact to a minimum this year.  Oh, and the joy of having just one snack time a day instead of multiple voices telling me they are hungry. Every half hour. It truly is the little things in life, people.

I am so thankful for fall, when they have to wear full toe covering footwear.  I am thankful for school, so kids that are mine and aren't mine don't run in my house every ten minutes because they are hungry and hot.  I am thankful for school, so same said children will actually be in school for 6 1/2 hours, and can't bug me about what snacks they want.  Or even better, the cooler weather because they actually stay in their clothes and do not get anything (like the tile, carpet, couch, or my pants that I need to be dry because I have a meeting in 10 minutes) wet.  And why do they not get that when it is time to change into dry clothes, that also means underwear?  WHY?  Summer mysteries like this just drive me nuts.

In all fairness to summer, it could just be part of my nature to be a little biased, since my allergies  are at their worst in this season, and because when I try to tan, the best I can do is look yellow. While pastels may be in right now, the jaundiced look is never attractive.  But really, the broken toenail thing is just a deal breaker, too. Blech.

On a different but some what related note, can I tell you I am excited?  I am excited because my family is gone.  They went down to Utah to finish off the cousin swap we had this week.  I cleaned the bathrooms right after they left, and have been grinning and/or humming all afternoon.  Guess why.  Just guess.  THE BATHROOMS WILL STAY CLEAN FOR A FULL 24 HOURS!!!  Can I hear a hallelujah from the other mothers of small boys?